Pelanggaran HAM dalam tragedi 1998 dan lahirnya era reformasi

Abstract

The 1998 tragedy marked one of the most significant turning points in Indonesia’s socio-political history. This event signaled the end of the New Order regime, which had ruled for more than three decades, and became the starting point of the Reformation Era. However, beneath this political transformation lay numerous human rights violations that left deep scars on the nation’s conscience. This article aims to provide an academic analysis of the forms of human rights violations during the May 1998 tragedy and their connection to Indonesia’s political transition. The research employs a qualitative approach based on literature review, including reports from the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), historical records, and academic journals on Indonesia’s transitional politics. Findings reveal that the human rights abuses—such as violence against protesters, enforced disappearances of activists, and gender-based violence against Chinese-Indonesian women—were part of a systematic state repression conducted by the military apparatus. The tragedy became the catalyst for public awareness of the need for democratization, state accountability, and the rule of law. Hence, the Reformation Era represents not only a political milestone but also a symbol of civil society’s struggle for human rights enforcement in Indonesia.